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Library Management System Evaluation Committee

Notes from the meeting
1/28/99

Present: Tim Lynch, Surinder Ghangas, Scott Wicks, Jim LeBlanc, Howard Raskin, Susan Currie, Linda Westlake, Elaine Engst, Oya Rieger, Lynne Personius, Mike Garcia, Steven Rockey, Fred Muratori, Zsuzsa Koltay (recorder)

1) Discussed reactions to SUNY Connect visit

We are ahead of them in our decision timeline. We should keep up a dialog with them and learn from each other.

Should we participate and pick the same system as they do? We could think of a lot of pluses and minuses with lots of uncertainties and speculations. LMT needs to tell us whether this is an option and whether this should be another one of the criteria we consider. Lynne will draft a request for direction to LMT.

2) Discussed what to ask vendors at ALA

• big changes since last year (server software, database manager, etc.)
• do they have a system? talk to DRA about this concern and to Endeavor about bad modules. We did not communicate what we didn't like last year.
• follow up with Syracuse and Penn about Endeavor improvements and responsiveness (Susan C. cautioned that local problems might have to do with poor local choices)
• hoping against hope that other vendors might emerge based on recent changes (Ex Libris? VTLS?)

3) Other discussion...

• What's changed since last year? - Endeavor on better financial footings -We have more pressure to select and install
• If we eliminate risk there is just one choice but would we be happy with it?
• We can contract for custom development. SUNY Connect contract has got to be huge. More leverage for asking for changes if we go with them?
• Probe Endeavor user group that Sarah was invited to last year.
• Visit Syracuse and Penn again
• OPAC does not need visits - just calls
• visits to DRA sites -there must be test databases - get DRA permission so that we can look at these test databases
• Since there are no real choices at this point should we broaden our options by looking at DRA as a classic+TAOS combination since they have the financial stability and a clear commitment to develop a real new generation system? Any other vendors in this category? VTLS?

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rev. 3/2/99 peo